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Firmware History... The
best just keeps getting better!
Firmware
version 1.1.61b is available for testing on the LP-100 Current
Software page. It is our
intention to aggresively continue development with many more unique
features and capabilities, and with only 60% of the available
program memory being used, this will continue for years. Here is a history of major
releases since PIC upgrade starting with serial #101.
Version 1.1.72 includes the
following
new features...
*Addition of setup option for SWR or REF PWR
*Addition of setup choices for more optional couplers
*Addition of setup option for additional display types for
commercial/industrial applications
Version 1.1.64 includes the
following
new features...
*Addition
of alternate bargraph style and setup screen
*Addition
of 5KW maximum power display option to allow use of optional
5KW coupler
*Addition
of style options for resting SWR (no power applied)
Version 1.1.61b includes the
following new features...Rel
* Addition of
Bargraph Decay menu. Choices are "Off", "Fast",
"Med", "Slow". The default is "Off", which behaves like previous
versions.
* Slight change in SWR Bargraph
*
Peak-to-Average
Display. See the latest manual for usage. This function
requires these test files for accurate measurements...
two-level-tone-loop
loud-tone
Version 1.1.53 includes the
following new features...
*
User Alarm setting now shows the setup value after the word
"User".
*
Several bug fixes to fix number resets and net power correction
fix in peak mode
Version 1.1.50 includes the
following new features...
* Snooze function for the SWR Alarm. Tap the Alarm
button and the alarm is disabled for 1 minute.
* Custom "user" alarm threshold
setting in addition to the presets. The custom setting can be set
between 1.0 and 5.0. The choices are now Off, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and
User.
* SWR in tune mode changed to
average.
Beta version 1.1.48e includes the
following new features...
* New software reset feature that eliminates the
need to cycle power
when flash programming. To access the function, enter Setup/CAL by
holding Mode button for 1 second. When the first Setup screen is
displayed, press the Alarm button to reset. The first screen has
changed slightly BTW. See the latest manual for details.
* Addition of a tuning screen for
tuning amplifiers. It works well even with a pulser. The Fast/Slow
button now has three states... Fast, Slow and Tune. They are
represented by a "w", "W" or "T" following the power value. The
new
screen consolidates a couple of previous features into one easily
accessed screen.
* Peak hold behavior has been
improved.
Release version 1.1.46 includes the
following
new features...
* New setup screen for setting
maximum bargraph values for the three auto ranges, maximizing bargraph
resolution. Choices are...
Low -
5,10,15,20,25w
Mid -
50,75,100,125,150,175,200,225,250
High -
500,750,1000,1250,1500,1750,2000,2250,2500
Each range has an independent setting
and includes 0.4 dB (~10%) headroom, so for instance the 100W range
extends to ~110W. Note: these ranges apply only to the bargraph... the
numerical readout has no limits in any mode.
* New Fast Bargraph Range screen
that
allows selection of the range that the bargraph will display in the
Fast (tune) mode. The choices are 3, 6, 9 and 12 dB. If 3
dB is
chosen, for the same 100W example, the bargraph would display from
55-110W, for a resolution of 1.5W/bar. The response is still
logarithmic to provide a smooth readout with minimal jitter, somewhat
akin to the square law response of the typical analog power meter.
*Bargraph has been sped up to
be able to respond to a pulser for amplifier tuning at lower power. The bargraph refresh rate is now almost
100 samples/second., and
will follow very high speed CW and speech syllables.
* New Peak Hold Time screen
allows
adjustment of Peak Hold time in Slow mode from 0.25 to 5.0 seconds
(previously
fixed at 5 sec).
* New Averaging Samples screen
allows adjustment of the sample count in Fast mode from 2-24 samples
(previously fixed at 8).
* New Gain/Phase edit screens
allow manual editing of the automatically stored Gain/Phase CAL table.
There are many more updates coming,
and 40% of the program memory is still available allowing for a long
future. Features currently being tested are...
*Compression Ratio screen shows
peak-to-average ratio in dB
*Power and Phase Balance screen
for
use
with remote samplers to monitor stacked beams or elements in a phased
array for power ratio and phase difference.
*New tuning mode with wide and
"zoomed in" bargraphs to simultaneously show full power range and a
seletable narrow
tuning range.
Other firmware updates since the May
2006 introduction of the LP-100...
* Double the program memory to
extend the life of the LP-100 almost indefinitely... available to
current users as a free chip swap. The latest firmware uses only 52% of
the available memory.
* Band-by-band corrections are now
extended to include vector parameters, like a professional VNA, and the
procedure has been reduced to one button
press per band. There are almost 40 correction parameters now that are
automatically applied based on the transmit frequency as determined by
the internal frequency counter.
* Frequency indexed vector
corrections allow for software aided directivity improvements. The
LP-100 will now display directivity of >40 dB on all bands,
including 6m, when calibrated at the factory or at the user's QTH with
a precision dummy load. Typical Return Loss display accuracy is 0.1 dB
now.
* New mode added to allow the
LP-100 to be used for sensitive power measurements using a direct input
(bypassing the coupler), in the range of ~ -15.0 to +33.0 dBm (30 uW to
2W). This is
in addition to the normal dBm screen which displays +15.0 to +64.0
dBm (50 mW to 2500W). This is a great tool for
bench work and antenna measurements. When the LP-100 is combined with a
wi-fi enabled
laptop computer, it creates a remote FS measurement tool with complete
independence from accuracy-compromising wires going back to the shack.
* New setup screen for FWD vs. NET
(delivered) power, and SWR alarm power threshold... great for
multi-transmitter contest sites.
* OLE linking between the LP-100
Virtual Control Panel freeware and TRX-Manager to allow a remote LP-100
to be monitored from within TRX-Manager. Of course, the LP-100 can also
be remotely controlled/monitored through the use of a serial device
server as outlined in my October 2005 QST article. I have several
customers doing this now (including me ;-)